Dinosaurs and Fossils of Isle of Wight
Discover the prehistoric past
Isle of Wight has a rich record of dinosaur and fossil discoveries. Eroding cliffs and coastal exposures have yielded important species, drawing palaeontologists since the early 19th century. New finds continue to make headlines.
Geological formations exposed along the coast date back millions of years, preserving evidence of the creatures that once inhabited the region. Eroding cliffs and foreshore exposures regularly reveal new material, and palaeontologists continue to study the area's rich fossil record.
Fossil hunting is a popular activity, particularly after winter storms expose fresh material in the cliffs and on the foreshore. Local museums and collections house the most important finds from across Isle of Wight.
Species and Fossil Sites
Iguanodon
One of the first dinosaurs ever described, with the Isle of Wight providing some of the most complete and scientifically important specimens worldwide.
Neovenator
The most complete large carnivorous dinosaur found in Europe, establishing the Isle of Wight as a globally significant site for theropod palaeontology.
Polacanthus
One of the earliest known Cretaceous armoured dinosaurs, first found on the Isle of Wight and still one of the best-known ankylosaurs from Europe.
Eotyrannus
One of the earliest known tyrannosaurs, revealing that the lineage which produced T. rex began as small, long-armed predators in Early Cretaceous Europe.
Comptonatus chasei
The most complete dinosaur skeleton found in Britain in over a century, adding a new genus to the island's rich iguanodontian fauna.
Brighstoneus simmondsi
A new iguanodontian genus that revealed previously unrecognised herbivore diversity in the Isle of Wight's Cretaceous ecosystems.
Wessex Formation
The geological formation underlying the Isle of Wight's status as one of the richest dinosaur localities in Europe, continuously producing new specimens through coastal erosion.
Fossil Hunting Guide
A practical guide to one of Britain's most accessible and productive fossil hunting locations, where significant discoveries continue to be made by amateur collectors.
Compton Bay Fossil Sites
The most productive and accessible dinosaur fossil site on the Isle of Wight, yielding footprints, bones, and plant fossils on an ongoing basis through natural coastal erosion.
Yaverland Fossil Sites
An important east coast fossil site noted for exceptionally preserved dinosaur footprints and material from the Vectis Formation that complements the south-west coast localities.